Sentence Correction

Efforts to equalize the funds available to school districts, a major goal of education reformers and many states in the 1970's, has not significantly reduced the gaps existing between the richest and poorest districts.

(A) has not significantly reduced the gaps existing
(B) has not been significant in reducing the gap that exists
(C) has not made a significant reduction in the gap that exists
(D) have not significantly reduced the gap that exists
(E) have not been significant in a reduction of the gaps existing


how to choose between D and E?

In D....significantly(ADVERB) reduced (VERB)....exists

In E....significant in a reduction(NOUN)......existing


here, only thing comes in my mind is that E is wordy because it uses NOUN Form and in GMAT, VERB FORM is preferred over NOUN FORM. So, E is wrong.


but how to choose grammatically or by meaning?

As far as I know, "reduce" can be considered as verb as in "X reduces Y" or noun as in "a reduction in..."

Choice B has "in a reduction of" and isnt concise, so my answer is D.

Hope that helps.
Regards!